Automatically operable end connector for a power distribution system

ABSTRACT

An end connector for a power distribution system of the type providing an essentially continuous convenience outlet enabling electric plugs to be connected thereto at substantially any selected location therealong. The system includes one or more elongated track components that provide such convenience outlet, and each such track component is equipped along its length with a conductor assembly comprising a plurality of spaced apart electric conductors insulated one from another. The end connector is connectable with such track component at an end thereof, and may take the form either of a splice box used to join successive track components or of an end closure used to attach an end block or junction box thereto and within which the conductors of the distribution system are connected with power supply lines. The end connector, for the purpose of establishing connection thereof with a track component, has a housing portion insertable into the end of a track component, and the connector is equipped with a plurality of contacts that automatically engage and establish an electric connection with the respective conductors of the track component upon insertion of the housing portion of the end connector thereinto.

United States Patent [191 Contratto [1 1 3,731,255 51 May 1, 1973 [54]AUTOMATICALLY OPERABLE END CONNECTOR FOR A POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM[75] Inventor: James Contratto, Livermore, Calif.

[73] Assignee: U.S. Industries, Inc., New York,

[22] Filed: June 21,1971

[21] Appl. N0.: 154,782

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,173,549 12/1969 Great Britain .339/22T Primary Examiner-Emest R. Purser Assistant ExaminerRobert A. HaferAttorney-Joseph B. Gardner [57] ABSTRACT An end connector for a powerdistribution system of the type providing an essentially continuousconvenience outlet enabling electric plugs to be connected thereto atsubstantially any selected location therealong. The system includes oneor more elongated track components that provide such convenience outlet,and each such track component is equipped along its length with aconductor assembly comprising a plurality of spaced apart electricconductors insulated one from another. The end connector is connectablewith such track component at an end thereof, and may take the formeither of a splice box used to join successive track components or of anend closure used to attach an end block or junction box thereto andwithin which the conductors of the distribution system are connectedwith power supply lines. The end connector, for the purpose ofestablishing connection thereof with a track component, has a housingportion insertable into the end of a track component, and the connectoris equipped with a plurality of contacts that automatically engage andestablish an electric connection with the respective conductors of thetrack component upon insertion of the housing portion of the endconnector thereinto.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented May 1, 1973 680 696 lag 509 479 /926 84 82 78 FIG. 4

FIG. 5

/NVENTOR-' JAMES CONT 7'70 5 TTORNEY m m F 3 I j AUTOMATICALLY ()PERABLEEND CONNECTOR FOR A POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM This invention relates toa power distribution system and, more particularly, to an end connectoreither in the form of a splice box (or coupler) or of an end closure fora power distribution system having elongated track components providedwith substantially continuous receptacles or convenience outletstherealong adapted to have plugs connected thereto at substantially anyselected location along the length thereof.

End connectors of the type being considered herein are discussed interms of their general structure and function in commonly assignedcopending patent applications Ser. No. 780,840, filed Dec. 3, 1968 andSer. No. 19,660, filed Mar. 16, 1970; and as explained in suchapplications, such end connectors provide a quick and easy means forinterconnecting a plurality of successive track components and forclosing the terminal end of any one such component while interconnectingthe conductors thereof with power supply lines. The end connectorsdisclosed in such copending patent applications comprise a plurality ofcontacts that are selectively movable between inner retracted positionsand outer extended positions in which they are adapted to engage therespective conductors in the track component of a power distributionsystem so as to establish an electric connection therewith. Each endconnector is equipped with manually operable selector structure which ismanipulated once the connector is inserted into a track component so asto displace certain or all of the contacts outwardly into engagementwith the respectively associated conductors.

The present invention is concerned with and has for a general object animproved end connector for a power distribution system in which thevarious contacts of the connector automatically engage and therebyautomatically establish electric connection with the various conductorsin a track assembly upon insertion of the end connector thereinto,thereby obviating the requirement for selector structure which must bemanually manipulated to provide the requisite interconnection.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention, especially asconcerns particular features characteristics thereof, will becomeapparent as the specification continues.

A power distribution system embodying the present invention may includea plurality of elongated, longitudinally extending track componentsconnected by splice boxes or couplers (i.e.', one form of the endconnector) one with another in a succession thereof. Each trackcomponent is relatively rigid and defines :1 Iongitudinally extendingconvenience outlet therealong, and it is intended to be supported alonga ceiling or other building wall and, in many cases, is either partiallyor completely embedded therein. Each receptacle-equipped track componentis adapted to have one or more male plugs connected at any suitablelocation within the convenience outlet, and cooperative polarizationmeans may be provided by the track component and by such plug to permitconnection thereof in only one relative orientation. Each end connector,whether a splice box interconnecting successive track components or anend closure located at a terminal end of a succession of trackcomponents, is connectable with any particular track component at an endthereof.

In interconnecting two successive track components, a unitary splice boxor coupler is used having opposite end portions in respectiveassociation with such components and in connecting a succession of trackcomponents at one end with power supply lines, a live end closure isused in association with a junction or end box within which the actualphysical connection is made to the power supply lines. In the usualinstance, the power distribution system will have three spaced apart andelectrically isolated conductors extending along the track components,and each end conductor will have three contacts respectively engageablewith such conductors automatically upon insertion of the end connectorinto the track component.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a broken perspective view illustrating both a live end closureand a splice box connected with track components of a power distributionsystem embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, broken top plan view illustrating the live endclosure shown in FIG. 1 in association with a track component, portionsof which are broken away;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged transverse sectional view, taken along theline 33 of FIG. 1, of a track component and splice box forming a part ofthe power distribution system;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the live end closure shown in FIG. 2 butwith the top cover thereof removed and the closure turned end-for-end;and

FIG. 5 is a broken top plan view of the splice box with the top coverthereof removed.

The power distribution system partially illustrated in FIG. 1 mayinclude a plurality of interconnected track components 10, only one ofwhich is shown, and they are each receptacle-equipped components adaptedto have one or more plugs or adaptors (not shown) connected therewith atvarious locations therealong. Each such adaptor is usually associatedwith an electric fixture or appliance such as an incandescent lightingfixture (not shown). The track components 10 are associated with endconnectors 11 and 12, the first of which is a live end closure and thesecond a splice box or coupler.

The track component 10 and end connectors 11 and 12 and adaptors, notshown) are polarized so as to cause all of the elements of the powerdistribution system to have a predetermined orientation, therebyresulting in particular polarities being observed in interconnecting thesame. The polarization means employed will be described brieflyhereinafter for convenience, and is illustrated and described in detailin the aforementioned application Ser. No. 19,660. ,At this point,however, it may be observed that apart from such polarization means thetrack component 10 is generally symmetrical about a vertical center linetherethrough; and in view of such general symmetry, the same numeralsare employed to identify the oppositely positioned counterpart elementsexcept that the suffixes a and b are added for purposes ofdifferentiation therebetween.

Accordingly, and referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular, the trackcomponent 10 is seen to include a pair of longitudinally extending andtransversely spaced side walls 13a and 13b formed integrally with alongitudinally extending web 14 that is transversely disposed andprojects between the side walls intermediate the top and bottom thereof.

Adjacent their upper ends, the side walls 13 are turned inwardly todefine flanges 15a and 151; that are used in securing the trackcomponent 10 to a ceiling or other support means, not shown. The trackcomponent 10 is intended to be assembled in succession with other liketrack components in a predetermined orientation so that circuitcontinuities are observed and maintained throughout an entiredistribution system.

The track component 10 is provided with a chamber or receptacle 16 inunderlying relation with the web 14, and such receptacle or chamberdefines a longitudinally extending convenience outlet adapted to receiveone or more adaptors therein. The chamber 16 adjacent its upper end inunderlying relation with the web 14 is provided with a conductorassembly denoted in general with the numeral 17. The conductor assembly17 includes an elongated insulator or insulated holder 18 having a web20 of substantially the same general configuration as that of the trackweb 14 so as to be able to closely underlie the same, as illustrated inFIG. 3. Therefore, the web 20 is also provided with downwardly inclinedsegments 21a and 21b respectively corresponding to the downwardly andoutwardly inclined segments 22a and 22b of the track web 14.

The insulator 18 is provided adjacent the lower outer ends of theinclined sections 21a and 21b with longitudinally extending channelorslot-forming sockets 24a and 24b respectively having conductors 25 and26 mounted therein. Adjacent the upper end of the inclined section 21aat its mergence with the horizontal web section another longitudinallyextending channelor slot-forming socket 27 is provided and has aconductor 28 mounted therein. Each of the conductorequipped sockets 24and 27 is provided with a restricted mouth confining the associatedconductor therein and adapted to pass therethrough one of the contactsof an adaptor or of the end connectors 11 and 12, as will be explainedhereinafter. The conductors 25, 26, and 28 may be conventional copperwires (12 gauge, for example), and they are effectively constrainedagainst longitudinal displacements with respect to the insulator 18 bythe frictional grip of the respective sockets within which they areconfined, thereby eliminating the use of collars crimped about theconductors as explained in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,529,275.

The insulator 18 is sufficiently rigid to be substantiallyself-sustaining and maintain the conductors in the spaced apartrelationship shown and to confine the same within the slots or channelstherefor. The insulator 18 is also equipped with depending legs 30a and306 respectively extending downwardly from the channel members 240 and24b, and such legs are substantially parallel to the side walls 13a and13b of the track 10. Each leg 30 together with the associated slotportion or socket 24 has a vertical dimension slightly less than thedistance between the horizontally oriented shoulders 31a and 31brespectively connecting the inclined sections 22a and 22b of the trackweb 14 with the side walls 130 and 13b and the respectively underlyinginwardly turned flanges 32a and 32b that extend inwardly from the sidewalls 13a and 13b and are substantially parallel with the respectivelyfacing shoulders 31a and 31b. The legs 30 generally maintain theconductor assembly 17 in the position or orientation shown but in theabsence of an adaptor or end connector 11 or 12, the conductor assemblyis free to move downwardly relative to the track 10 until the lowerextremities of the legs 30 abut the inwardly turned flanges 32. Suchrelative dimensions of the legs 30 and spacing between the shoulders 31and flanges 32 enables the conductor assembly 17 to fit rather looselywithin the chamber 16 so that it is freely movable with respect theretoin iongitudinal directions, thereby facilitating incorporation of theconductor assembly 17 within the track 10.

The conductor assembly 17 provides a plurality of circuits or pairs ofconductors defining the same, and in the particular distribution systembeing considered there are two such circuits and, therefore, two pairsof conductors defining the same. In more particular terms, the conductor25 is common to each of the two circuits and conductor pairs and may beconsidered the neutral conductor. The conductors 26 and 28 areselectively associated with the neutral conductor 25, and the adaptorused in the system is adapted to be selectively connected to one or theother of such circuits, as explained in the commonly assigned copendingpatent application of Larry L. Routh and James Contratto entitledAdaptor For a Power Distribution System, Ser. No. 880,335, filed Nov.26, 1969. As is well known, in the usual distribution system thepotential defined between the neutral conductor 25 and either of theconductors 26 and 28 is of the order of volts AC, and the potentialacross the conductors 26 and 28 (which potential is not ordinarily used)is of the order of 220 volts AC.

As suggested heretofore, for the purpose of enabling thereceptacle-equipped track components to be readily accommodated by roomsand installations irrespective of the dimensional restrictions thereof,it is prac ticably necessary for such track components to be cut tolength at the site of their installation, thereby requiring splice boxesand connector arrangements having no special structural characteristicsassociated with the track components which might be lost upon cuttingthe same to custom or special lengths. The end connectors 11 and 12 areso connectable with the receptacleequipped track components 10irrespective of their being cut to any particular lengths; and it may benoted that the connectors 11 and 12 are very similar. with the connector12 being essentially a double-ended connector ll. 7

Accordingly, the primed form of the same numerals used to identify theelements of the splice box 11 are used where appropriate to identify therespectively corresponding elements of the end closure 12.

The end closure 11 is not intended to have plugs, adaptors or otherutilization devices connected therewith, and, accordingly, does not havean elongated receptacle for this purpose provided along the undersidethereof. Generally, the closure 11 is intended to establish connectiontherethrough between a track component and connector block or junctionbox, and, therefore, includes a plurality of contacts to establishconnection with the respective conductors of the track component 10. Inpositive terms, the closure 11 is provided with a pair of contacts 34aand 34b that respectively engage the conductors 25 and 26 of the trackcomponents 10, and with a third or additional contact 35 which engagesthe conductor 28 of such track component.

The contacts 34 and 35 are mounted within a housing or casing 36 havinga forwardly extending section 37 insertable into the chamber 16 of thetrack component (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). The housing 36 is alsoprovided with a rear end portion 38 enlarged both transversely andvertically with respect to the section 37, and it is abuttable with theend of the track component 10 upon such insertion of the housing section37 thereinto, also as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The housing is providedtherein with a contact compartment 40 and with a connector compartmentgenerally denoted 41.

Each of the contacts 34 and 35 is elongated longitudinally with thecontacts 34a and 34b being of substantially the same length and disposedin transversely spaced, substantially parallel alignment, as is mostevident in FIG. 4. Each of the contacts 34 extends forwardly from theconnector compartment 41 and seats within a channel provided thereforthat is defined between the housing side wall 41a and an upwardlyextending boss or wall structure 45a adjacent thereto in the case of thecontact 34a, and between the housing wall 44b and adjacent boss or wallstructure 45b in the case of the contact 34b. Such recesses respectivelyconfine the contacts 34 therein, and it may be observed in FIG. 4 thatthe contacts extend forwardly into the compartment 40 in substantiallyparallel relation and in substantially parallel relation with the sidewalls 44 of the housing.

At their forward ends, the contacts 34 are respectively provided withoutwardly turned terminal ends 47a and 47b that project through openings48a and 48b defined in the respective side walls 44. The contacts 47have outer edges 49 that are adapted to frictionally engage theconductors 25 and 26 to establish an electric connection therewith, andsuch edges have inclined cam portions 50 to facilitate insertion of theclosure placement toward the remote housing wall 44b. All of thecontacts have sufficient resilience to be self-biased toward theoutwardly projecting positions shown, and may be made of a material suchas relatively hard brass which has such inherent resilience.

The closure 11 is equipped with a cover plate 57 that is removablysecured to the casing 38 by a plurality of screws 58. The cover plate 57substantially encloses each of the compartments 40 and 41, and thecontacts 34 tend to be isolated from each other adjacent the outwardlyturned terminal ends 47 thereof by a rib 60 that extends upwardly fromthe cover plate along the center thereof. Adjacent the rib 60 andinwardly thereof, the cover 57 is provided with a transversely elongatedopening 64 through which the upwardly extending portion and terminal end52 of the contact 35 extend. Rearwardly of the opening 64 is anadditional upwardly extending rib 65 oriented in axial alignment withthe rib 60, each of which is at the center of the cover 57. The ribs 60and 65 both serve to urge the conductor assembly 17 upwardly relative tothe metal track so as to force the two webs 20 and 14 into substantiallycontiguous relation, as shown in FIG. 3 respecting the splice box 12.The leading edge 66 of the rib 60 is inclined so as to facilitateinsertion of the end closure 11 into the track component 10 and forcethe conductor assembly 17 upwardly to establish an accurate condition ofalignment between the respective terminal ends 47 and 52 and the slotsin the conductor carriers 24 and 27.

It will be observed in FIG. 4 that the contacts 34a and 34b are turnedlaterally within the connector compartment 41 at the respective ends oflongitudinally extending wall segments 67a and 67b, and are disposedalong connector posts 68a and 68b which have threaded openings thereinto permit the end closure 11 to be fixedly secured to a junction box(not shown). The laterally turned end portions of the contacts 34 areformed so as to have a somewhat corrugated configuration, as shown at69a and 69b, so as to seat a generally cylinderical power supply line orlead wire therein, and spring clips 70a and 70b which have resilientspring legs in substantial alignment with respectively associatedcorrugations cooperate therewith in locking such lead wires intomechanical and electrical engagement with the contacts 34. A similararrangement is provided for the contact 35 which is turned laterallyadjacent a plurality of wall segments 71a, 71b, and 72, and iscorrugated as shown at 74 so as to cooperate with a spring clip 75 inanchoring a lead wire in connection tion with the contact 34b in FIG. 4,when the closure is inserted into the track 10, as. is clearly evidentin FIG. 2.

In an analogous manner, the contact 35 has an end portion 52 that isturned laterally and is provided with an outer edge 53 adapted tofrictionally engage the conductor 28. The edge 53 has a cam portion 54and a rearwardly extending portion 55 serving the same function as theportions 51 associated with the contacts 34. In the particularembodiment of the invention being considered, the end portion 52 of thecentral contact 35 is turned in the same direction as the end portion47a of the contact 34a, and the end portions 511: and 55 are disposed inthe same orientation for inward distherewith.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be observed that the cover 57 is providedwith openings 76a and 76b respectively aligned with the laterally turnedend portions 69a and 69b of the contacts 34 so as to permit the ends oflead wires to be inserted downwardly through the cover 57 and intoengagement with the contacts so as to be held thereagainst by the springclips 70. Similarly, the cover 57 is also provided with an opening 77 inalignment with a laterally turned end 74 of the contact 35 so as topermit lead wires to be connected thereto. For convenience, the uppersurface of the cover 57 is marked with the polarity so as to facilitateinterconnection of a distribution system with the power supply lines. Inthis respect, the openings 76b and 77 are both marked for positivepolarity, and the opening 760 is marked for connection to the neutral orline common to the two circuits respectively including the contacts 34aand 35.

it may also be seen in FIG. 2 that a ground contact 78 is fixedlysecured to the cover 57 by means of a cap screw 79 extending through alaterally turned connector ear 80'forming a part of the contact 78, andwhich screw 79 is received within the threaded opening of an upwardlyextending boss 81 provided by the cover 57. The ground contact or wire78 extends forwardly through a slot 82 provided therefor in a verticalwall of the casing or housing section 36 so that the outer free end ofthe ground contact extends generally along the forwardly projecting endportion 37 of the end closure 11. The ground contact 78 is a resilientcomponent that is biased outwardly because of its inherent resilience,and it may be provided with a barb 84 enabling it to scrap or gouge theinner surface of the metal component so as to establish a good electricconnection therewith.

In this respect, the metal track forming a part of the track component10 is adapted to be used as the ground conductor for the entiredistribution system so that interconnection of the successive trackcomponents via the ground contacts 78 of the splice boxes 12 isnecessary. The system itself can be grounded to the power distributionsystem by appropriate connection of the ground wire thereof to the trackcom- -ponents, as by means of the screw 79 at the end closure 11. Itmight be noted, however, that in certain instances use of the metaltrack as the ground for the system may not be desired, and in this eventa single electric circuit could be provided such as across theconductors 2S and 26 with a conductor 28 serving as a ground for thetwowire distribution system.

Inspection of FIG. 3 makes it evident that the conductors 25, 26, and 28extending each track component 10 have a predetermined orientation withrespect to each other, and since the conductors are not symmetricallydisposed (the conductor 28 being offset from the center of the trackcomponent in one direction), right-hand and left-hand end closures 11must be provided in order that any particular track component can beselectively connected at either end thereof to a power distributionsystem. The right-hand and left-hand end closures 11 may besubstantially the same except that the casing or housing 36 andparticularly the end portion 37 thereof must be changed slightly topermit insertion thereof into a track component 10 from the oppositedirection, and the contact 35 must have the end portion 52 thereofturned in the opposite lateral direction so that the edge 53 thereof canengage the conductor 28.

As respects the changes required in the casing or housing 36, it willobserved by referring to FIG. 3 that the track component 10 is polarizedso that the end connectors 11 and 12 can be inserted thereinto in onlyone predetermined orientation with respect thereto. More particularly,the inwardly extending flange 32a of the track component 10 is providedalong the inner edge thereof with an upwardly extending rib or lip 85but the corresponding flange 32b is without such rib, thereby making thetrack component asymmetrical about a center plane therethrough.Evidently then, each of the end connectors ll and 12 must beconfigurated along the forwardly extending end 37 thereof so as toaccommodate the polarizing rib 85, and such configuration is mostevident in FIG. 3 which shows that the end connector 12 is providedalong each of the bottom edges thereof with channels or recesses 86 and87 the latter of which is sufficiently large in a vertical direction soas to accommodate the polarizing rib 85. Thus, depending upon thedirection from which an end closure 11 is to be inserted into the trackcomponent 10, one or the other of the longitudinal edges of the forwardprojection 37 will have the larger channel or recess 87 so as to receivethe polarizing rib 85.

As respects the requisite orientation of the terminal end 52 of thecenter contact 35, the opening 64 in the cover 57 may be sufficientlywide so as to accommodate either orientation of the contact 35. However,if the cover 57 is marked so as to indicate the positive and neutralapertures 76 and 77, the markings associated with the apertures 76 wouldhave to be reversed from that shown in FIG. 2 in the case of an endclosure 11 adapted to enter the opposite end of the track component 10.

End connectors in the form of splice boxes or couplers 12 areessentially the same as the end closures 11 except that they have anadditional outwardly projecting end portion so as to cooperate with twosuccessive track components 10 and join or interconnect the same. Thisidentity of the two different types of end connectors is most apparentby comparing the external appearances of the two connectors, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, and by comparing the internal characteristics thereof asindicated best in FIGS. 4 and 5. The essential difference is that thevarious contacts are integers respectively extending from one endportion of the splice box to the other end portion thereof withlaterally turned segments within the central connector compartment toenable supply lines to be connected thereto or to permit other trackcomponents to be electrically connected therewith should either positionbe desired. As indicated hereinbefore, because of the similarity bothfunctionally and structurally between the two types of end connectors 11and 12, the same numerals are applied to the splice box 12 to designatethe parts thereof respectively corresponding to those in the end closurell except that the prime form of the numerals are used, and for purposesof differentiation between the right-hand and left-hand ends of thesplice box 12 both single and double primed numerals are employed.Further description reciting such numerals is not required for anunderstanding of the present invention, however, and will be omitted.

It is evident from all of the foregoing that the end connectors 11 and12 cooperate with track components It) simply by inserting the endportions 37 of the appropriate connectors into the track componentsbecause such insertion automatically engages the respective contacts 34and 35 with the appropriate conductors 25, 26, and 28. More particularlyin this respect, each of the contacts 34 and 35 is resiliently biasedtoward the outwardly displaced positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 4so that they are forced to engage the respective conductors uponinsertion of the connector end portion 37 into the track component.Engagement of the contacts with the conductors first occurs adjacent theleading end portions of the laterally turned contact ends 47 and 52 andespecially along the inclined cam portions 50 and 54 thereof. Therefore,as the connector is progressively inserted into the track component, thesliding engagement of the contact end portions with the conductors urgeseach contact end portion inwardly toward the abutment associatedtherewith.

Accordingly, the leading or longer outer contacts 34a and 34b firstengage the conductors 25 and 26 and are cammed or urged progressiveinwardly until the rearwardly extending end portions 51a and 51b of suchcontacts abut the stop surfaces defined by the housing walls 44a and44b. Upon such abuttable engagement of the components 51 with the walls44, the contact edge portions 49a and 49b frictionally engage therespectively associated conductors 25 and 26 to establish a goodelectrical connection therewith. In this respect, the edge portions 49may scrape along and dig into the relatively soft (usually copper)conductors which may be slightly displaceable outwardly within the fixedlimits defined by the rigid side walls 13 of the track component 10.Evidently, the dimensional relationships are imposed such that when thecontacts 25 and 26 have been displaced outwardly to the maximumpermissible extent, the contact end portions 51 are in rigid abutmentwith the housing walls 44 and, at the same time, the edges 49 of thecontact end portions are in tight frictional engagement with theconductors.

The contact 35 establishes an electric connection with the conductor 28in the same manner, and because it engages such conductor afterengagement of the contact 34 with the conductors 25 and 26 has beencommenced, initial insertion of the connector end portion 37 into thetrack component is facilitated. The trailing or rearwardly extending endportion 55 of the laterally turned end 52 of the center contact 35terminates inward movement of the contact upon cooperative engagementthereof with the conductor 28 by abutment with the upwardly extendingrib 65, as shown in FIG. 2. Upon each insertion of a connector endportion 37 into a track component, each of the contacts 34 and 35electrically engages the conductors 25, 26, and 28 respectively alignedtherewith so that such conductors of adjacent or successive trackcomponents are always interconnected via a splice box or coupler l2interposed therebetween, and are always connected with the three leadwires associated with any live end closure 11. Thus, there is no needfor a workman to concern himself with which circuits should be connectedto any particular connector 1 l or 12.

In this same reference, the track components 10 and end connectors 11and 12 are polarized, so that there is no way to improperly interconnectthe same since the larger channel or recess 87 must be aligned with thepolarizing rib 45 before an end portion 37 of the connector can beinserted into the channel component. Thus, proper polarity is maintainedthroughout the entire distribution system. It may be noted that theadaptors (not shown, but disclosed in the aforementioned patentapplication Ser. No. 880,335) used to connect lighting fixtures andother appliances to the distribution system are also polarized so thateach such appliance when connected to the system is necessarilyconnected so that proper polarity is preserved.

As each end connector 11 and 12 is inserted into a track component 10,the conductor assembly 17 which is loosely supported within the track iscammed upwardly by the ribs 60 and of the connector so as to accuratelyalign the openings or mouths in the conductors holders or sockets 24 and27 with the contact end portions 47 and 52 so that no difficulty isexperienced in effecting the electric connection between the conductors25, 26, and 27 and the respectively associated contacts 34 and 35.

The openings or apertures 76 and 77 in the covers 57 of the endconnectors are sufficiently large to receive two lead wires should thisbe desired, and the laterally turned portions of the contacts have tworecesses or corrugations respectively cooperative with the spring meansor the spring clips and so as to accept and connect any such two leadwires with the contacts. Further, the end connectors are useful withtrack components 10 at the ends thereof without the requirement forspecial structural provision thereat so that the track components can becut to any necessary or desirable length to accommodate the requirementsof a particular installation. Accordingly, it is only necessary to cut atrack component to the length desired, and then insert the end portion37 of the connector into the track component which automaticallyestablishes the necessary electric connections. The housing 36 and cover57 may be formed of any suitable insulating material and may befabricated of various materials have dielectric characteristics such asone of the synthetic plastic materials, a polycarbonate for example. Thetrack component, except for the conductor assembly thereof, may bemetal, extruded aluminum for example.

The end connectors 11 and 12 may be used repeatedly to interconnectvarious track components 10 or to close an end thereof. However, in theusual case the end connectors are used only once because any particularinstallation employing such connector or connectors together with one ormore track components is intended to be permanent. Accordingly, any wearthat mayoccur, along theouteredges 49 and 53 of the contacts'i s of asignificance in the usual instance,

but anysuch wear is so minimal that it cannot impede repeated uses ofthe connectors, should'this be desired.

It will be apparent that the walls 44 ,of the housing .or

casing an rib 65 define stop structure cooperative with the respectivelyassociated contacts to limit inward displacements thereof and, as aconsequence, define the maximum permissible inward movement of each suchcontact. As respects the contacts 34, the housing walls 44 also definethe maximum permissible outward movement of the contacts and also,therefore, serve as stop structure as respects such contacts and theresilient biasing forces tending to displace the same outwardly. Aspreviously explained, the rearwardly extending portions 51 and 55 of therespective contacts defines abutment structure engageable with thehousing walls 44 or rib 65, as the case may be. As concerns the contact35, however, the rib 65 serves only as stop structure establishing. themaximum permissible inward displacement of the contact, whereas the edgeof the opening 64 in the top wall or cover 57 of the connector serves asthe stop structure restricting outward displacement of the contact underthe inherent resilient biasing force urging the contact in suchdirection.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention havebeen set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a completedisclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatnumerous changes may be made in such detailswithout departing from thespirit and principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An end connector or the like for use in a power distribution systemhaving a track component provided with a longitudinally extendingchamber therealong equipped with a conductor assembly that includes aplurality of conductors insolated one from the others, comprising acasing having a section thereof insertable into such chamber, a contactmounted within said casing and movable transversely with respect theretobetween an inner conductor-engaging position and an outer positiontransversely displaced therefrom and being biased toward the outerposition thereof, and stop structure provided by said casing forabutment by said contact upon inward movement thereof to define themaximum permissible inner position of said contact, said contact beingautomatically engageable with one such conductor upon insertion of saidcasing section into such chamber to establish an electric connectiontherebetween and being displaced into such maxirnum inner position andpositively constrained therein against said stop structure by such oneconductor upon complete insertion of said casing section, whereby suchengagement of said contact with the aforesaid one conductor deforms atleast one thereof as a result of the transverse constraint againstdisplacement imposed on said contact by said stop structure.

2. The end connector of claim 1 in which said casing is provided with alongitudinally disposed wall having an opening therein through whichsaid contact projects, said contact being movable relative to said wallbetween said inner and outer positions and having an abutment portionextending along said wall on the exterior thereof, said wall definingthe aforesaid stop structure and said abutment portion of said contactbeing abuttable therewith as aforesaid to establish the maximumpermissible inner position.

3. The end connector of claim 1 in which a plurality of said contactsare mounted within said casing and each being movable transversely withrespect thereto between inner conductor-engaging and outer positions andbeing biased toward the outer positions thereof, in which a plurality ofstop structures as aforesaid are provided by said casing in respectiveassociation with said contacts for abutment thereby to define themaximum permissible inward position of each, said casing being providedwith a plurality of longitudinally disposed walls respectivelyassociated with said contacts and each having an opening therein throughwhich the associated contact projects, each of said contacts beingmovable relative to its associated wall between said inner and outerpositions.

4. The end connector of claim 3 in which each ofsaid contacts is anelongated longitudinally extending component having an end portionprojecting through the associated wall opening, each of said contactsbeing characterized by an inherent spring-like resilience effooting theaforesaid biasing thereof toward its outer position, and in which atleast certain of said contacts have an abutment portion extending alongthe associated casing wall on the exterior thereof, the casing wallsassociated with said certain contacts defining the aforesaid stopstructures therefor and said abutment portions of such certain contactsbeing abuttable therewith as aforesaid to establish such maximumpermissible inner positions.

5. An end connector or the like for use in a power distribution systemhaving a track component provided with a longitudinally extendingchamber therealong equipped with a conductor assembly that includes aplurality of conductors insolated one from the others, comprising acasing having a section thereof insertable into such chamber, aplurality of contacts mounted within said casing and each being movabletransversely with respect thereto between inner and outer positions andbeing biased toward the outer position thereof, a plurality of stopstructures provided by said casing for respective abutment by saidcontacts upon inward movements thereof to define the maximum permissibleinner position of each contact, each of said contacts beingautomatically engageable with one such conductor upon insertion of saidcasing section into such chamber to establish an electric connectiontherebetween, and polarization means carried by said casing andcooperative with such track component to positively determine thepermissible interconnections of said end connector with such trackcomponent so as to preserve predetermined polarities throughout a powerdistribution system, said casing being provided with a plurality oflongitudinally disposed walls respectively associated with said contactsand each having an opening therein through which the associated contactprojects, each of said contacts being movable relative to its associatedwall between said inner and outer positions and being an elongatedlongitudinally extending component having an end portion projectingthrough the associated wall opening, each of said contacts beingcharacterized by an inherent spring-like resilience el fecting theaforesaid biasing thereof toward its outer position, said casing sectionbeing equipped with a top wall defining one of the aforesaidlongitudinally extending walls having an opening therein and one of saidcontacts projecting through such opening, said upwardly extending ribdefining one of the aforesaid stop structures and the abutment portionof the contact associated therewith being abuttable thereagainst asaforesaid.

6. The end connector of claim 5 in which said upwardly extending rib hasan inclined leading edge engageable with a conductor assembly providedby such track component so as to enforce a predetermined positionalrelationship upon such conductor assembly relative to said end connectorand thereby facilitate connection of said contacts with the respectiveconductors of such conductor assembly.

7. The end connector of claim 5 defining a splice box adapted to couplea pair of successive track components, said casing having a pair of theaforesaidsections oriented in opposite directions and being respectivelyinsertable into the chambers provided by successive track components,each of said contacts extending from end-to-end of said splice box andbeing provided with an end portion in each casing section independentlymovable as aforesaid between inner and outer positions.

8. An end connector or the like for use in a power distribution systemhaving a track component provided with a longitudinally extendingchamber therealong equipped with a conductor assembly that includes aplurality of conductors insolated one from the others, comprising acasing having a section thereof insertable into such chamber, aplurality of contacts mounted within said casing and each being movabletransversely with respect thereto between inner and outer positions andbeing biased toward the outer position thereof, and a plurality of stopstructures provided by said casing for respective abutment by saidcontacts upon inward movements thereof to define the maximum permissibleinner position of each contact, each of said contacts beingautomatically engageable with one such conductor upon insertion of saidcasing section into such chamber to establish an electric connectiontherebetween, said casing being provided with a plurality oflongitudinally disposed walls respectively associated with said contactsand each having an opening therein through which the associated contactprojects, each of said contacts being movable relative to said wallbetween said inner and outer positions, said casing section beingequipped with a top wall having an upwardly extending rib locatedtherealong, said top wall defining one of the aforesaid longitudinallyextending walls having an opening therein and one of said contactsprojecting through such opening, said upwardly extending rib definingone of the aforesaid stop structures and the abutment portion of thecontact associated therewith being abuttable thereagainst as aforesaid.

9. The end connector of claim 8 in which at least certain of saidcontacts have an abutment portion extending along the associated casingwall on the exterior thereof, the casing walls associated with saidcertain contacts defining the aforesaid stop structures therefor andsaid abutment portions of such certain contacts being abuttabletherewith as aforesaid.

10. The end connector of claim 8 in which said upwardly extending ribhas an inclined leading edge engageable with a conductor assemblyprovided by such track component so as to enforce a predeterminedpositional relationship upon such conductor assembly relative to saidend connector and thereby facilitate connection of said contacts withthe respective conductors of such conductor assembly.

11. The end connector of claim 8 in which each of said contacts is anelongated longitudinally extending component having an end portionprojecting through the associated wall opening, each of said contactsbeing characterized by an inherent spring-like resilience effecting theaforesaid biasing thereof toward its outer position.

1. An end connector or the like for use in a power distribution systemhaving a track component provided with a longitudinally extendingchamber therealong equipped with a conductor assembly that includes aplurality of conductors insolated one from the others, comprising acasing having a section thereof insertable into such chamber, a contactmounted within said casing and movable transversely with respect theretobetween an inner conductor-engaging position and an outer positiontransversely displaced therefrom and being biased toward the outerposition thereof, and stop structure provided by said casing forabutment by said contact upon inward movement thereof to define themaximum permissible inner position of said contact, said contact beingautomatically engageable with one such conductor upon insertion of saidcasing section into such chamber to establish an electric connectiontherebetween and being displaced into such maximum inner position andpositively constrained therein against said stop structure by such oneconductor upon complete insertion of said casing section, whereby suchengagement of said contact with the aforesaid one conductor deforms atleast one thereof as a result of the transverse constraint againstdisplacement imposed on said contact by said stop structure.
 2. The endconnector of claim 1 in which said casing is provided with alongitudinally disposed wall having an opening therein through whichsaid contact projects, said contact being movable relative to said wallbetween said inner and outer positions and having an abutment portionextending along said wall on the exterior thereof, said wall definingthe aforesaid stop structure and said abutment portion of said contactbeing abuttable therewith as aforesaid to establish the maximumpermissible inner position.
 3. The end connector of claim 1 in which aplurality of said contacts are mounted within said casing and each beingmovable transversely with respect thereto between innerconductor-engaging and outer positions and being biased toward the outerpositions thereof, in which a plurality of stop structures as aforesaidare provided by said casing in respective association with said contactsfor abutment thereby to define the maximum permissible inward positionof each, said casing being provided with a plurality of longitudinallydisposed walls respectively associated with said contacts and eachhaving an opening therein through which the associated contact projects,each of said contacts being movable relative to its associated wallbetween said inner and outer positions.
 4. The end connector of claim 3in which each of said contacts is an elongated longitudinally extendingcomponent having an end portion projecting through the associated wallopening, each of said contacts being characterized by an inherentspring-like resilience effecting the aforesaid biasing thereof towardits outer position, and in which at least certain of said contacts havean abutment portion extending along the associated casing wall on theexterior thereof, the casing walls associated with said certain contactsdefining the aforesaid stop structures therefor and said abutmentportions of such certain contacts being abuttable therewith as aforesaidto establish such maximum permissible inner positions.
 5. An endconnector or the like for use in a power distribution system having atrack component provided with a longitudinally extending chambertherealong equipped with a conductor assembly that includes a pluralityof conductors insolated one from the others, comprising a casing havinga section thereof insertable into such chamber, a plurality of contactsmounted within said casing and each being movable transveRsely withrespect thereto between inner and outer positions and being biasedtoward the outer position thereof, a plurality of stop structuresprovided by said casing for respective abutment by said contacts uponinward movements thereof to define the maximum permissible innerposition of each contact, each of said contacts being automaticallyengageable with one such conductor upon insertion of said casing sectioninto such chamber to establish an electric connection therebetween, andpolarization means carried by said casing and cooperative with suchtrack component to positively determine the permissible interconnectionsof said end connector with such track component so as to preservepredetermined polarities throughout a power distribution system, saidcasing being provided with a plurality of longitudinally disposed wallsrespectively associated with said contacts and each having an openingtherein through which the associated contact projects, each of saidcontacts being movable relative to its associated wall between saidinner and outer positions and being an elongated longitudinallyextending component having an end portion projecting through theassociated wall opening, each of said contacts being characterized by aninherent spring-like resilience effecting the aforesaid biasing thereoftoward its outer position, said casing section being equipped with a topwall defining one of the aforesaid longitudinally extending walls havingan opening therein and one of said contacts projecting through suchopening, said upwardly extending rib defining one of the aforesaid stopstructures and the abutment portion of the contact associated therewithbeing abuttable thereagainst as aforesaid.
 6. The end connector of claim5 in which said upwardly extending rib has an inclined leading edgeengageable with a conductor assembly provided by such track component soas to enforce a predetermined positional relationship upon suchconductor assembly relative to said end connector and thereby facilitateconnection of said contacts with the respective conductors of suchconductor assembly.
 7. The end connector of claim 5 defining a splicebox adapted to couple a pair of successive track components, said casinghaving a pair of the aforesaid sections oriented in opposite directionsand being respectively insertable into the chambers provided bysuccessive track components, each of said contacts extending fromend-to-end of said splice box and being provided with an end portion ineach casing section independently movable as aforesaid between inner andouter positions.
 8. An end connector or the like for use in a powerdistribution system having a track component provided with alongitudinally extending chamber therealong equipped with a conductorassembly that includes a plurality of conductors insolated one from theothers, comprising a casing having a section thereof insertable intosuch chamber, a plurality of contacts mounted within said casing andeach being movable transversely with respect thereto between inner andouter positions and being biased toward the outer position thereof, anda plurality of stop structures provided by said casing for respectiveabutment by said contacts upon inward movements thereof to define themaximum permissible inner position of each contact, each of saidcontacts being automatically engageable with one such conductor uponinsertion of said casing section into such chamber to establish anelectric connection therebetween, said casing being provided with aplurality of longitudinally disposed walls respectively associated withsaid contacts and each having an opening therein through which theassociated contact projects, each of said contacts being movablerelative to said wall between said inner and outer positions, saidcasing section being equipped with a top wall having an upwardlyextending rib located therealong, said top wall defining one of theaforesaid longitudinally extending walls having an opening therein andone of saiD contacts projecting through such opening, said upwardlyextending rib defining one of the aforesaid stop structures and theabutment portion of the contact associated therewith being abuttablethereagainst as aforesaid.
 9. The end connector of claim 8 in which atleast certain of said contacts have an abutment portion extending alongthe associated casing wall on the exterior thereof, the casing wallsassociated with said certain contacts defining the aforesaid stopstructures therefor and said abutment portions of such certain contactsbeing abuttable therewith as aforesaid.
 10. The end connector of claim 8in which said upwardly extending rib has an inclined leading edgeengageable with a conductor assembly provided by such track component soas to enforce a predetermined positional relationship upon suchconductor assembly relative to said end connector and thereby facilitateconnection of said contacts with the respective conductors of suchconductor assembly.
 11. The end connector of claim 8 in which each ofsaid contacts is an elongated longitudinally extending component havingan end portion projecting through the associated wall opening, each ofsaid contacts being characterized by an inherent spring-like resilienceeffecting the aforesaid biasing thereof toward its outer position.